Why do I Need Antioxidants? Swindon

Antioxidant supplements contain differing amounts of nutrients and plant extracts, including betacarotene, vitamins C and E, zinc, copper and magnesium. As well as having a beneficial effect on your general health, antioxidants can also help you recover from sports training. Read on to learn the real deal about antioxidants.

Why do I Need Antioxidants?

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What are they?Antioxidant supplements contain differing amounts of nutrients and plant extracts, including betacarotene, vitamins C and E, zinc, copper and magnesium. As well as having a beneficial effect on your general health, antioxidants can also help you recover from sports training.

What do they do? Very intense exercise, alongside smoking, sunburn, stress and pollution, can increase your body's generation of molecules known as free radicals, which can harm cell membranes, disrupt DNA and increase your risk of age-related diseases and cancer. There's some evidence that antioxidant supplements can protect against this, although some research suggests that supplements are less effective than getting antioxidants naturally as part of your diet. Evidence that they'll actually help your sports performance is harder to come by.

Who should take it? Though not everyone agrees with him, Gregg Marsh says, 'Due to our environment and stress levels, everyone should be on some type of antioxidant.' They work best if rotated, so for ten days you might use green tea, and for another ten days use grapeseed extract.'

How much should I take? 'The EU recommended daily amount for vitamin C is 60mg and for vitamin E 10mg,' says Anita Bean. 'But these are levels judged sufficient to support health, and a number of scientists believe they are too low.' Crucially, though, Bean says supplements are no substitute for proper nutrition: 'Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables daily - the more intense the colour, the higher the antioxidant content.' Including as many different coloured fruits and vegetables as possible ensures you get the widest variety of antioxidants.

When should I take them? This depends on the supplement you're taking and the effect you're looking for. 'Vitamin C is the antioxidant best taken after a workout because it blocks cortisol, the stress hormone,' says Marsh. A 2008 study suggested that antioxidants are most beneficial when taken with meals - rats fed red wine alongside meat ended up with fewer free radicals in their digestive tracts than their non-drinking siblings - but the evidence isn't conclusive.

Do they have any side effects? There are side effects related to excessive consumption of certain vitamins found in antioxidant supplements - massive amounts of carotene can turn your skin temporarily orange, for example. Also, the antioxidant minerals zinc, magnesium and copper - can be toxic in large doses. If you stick to the recommended dosage, though, you'll be fine.

Click on the links below to find out all you could possibly want to know about the other major supplements: